Tyson Foods says it will close beef plants amid cattle shortage

Tyson Foods says it will close beef plants amid cattle shortage

Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY

Fri, August 14, 2026 at 12:58 AM GMT+3 1 min read

Arkansas-based Tyson Foods announced that it would be restructuring its beef operations by closing two plants and pursuing the sale of a third.

In a press release Aug. 13, the company said it would close its plants in Joslin, Illinois, and Eagle Mountain, Utah. Apart from the plant closures, Tyson Foods said it would pursue the sale of its beef plant in Pasco, Washington.

According to reporting from local Illinois station KWQC, employees at the Tyson plant in Joslin were told that their job duties would end no later than Aug. 14. But some employees at the plant may be asked to continue certain operations past that date, according to KWQC.

Tyson Foods said an ongoing cattle shortage was a factor in the restructuring.

The company cited USDA cattle inventory data, "which included continued evidence of limited heifer retention." The company said it would concentrate its beef business around three facilities located in Dakota City, Nebraska; Holcomb, Kansas; and Amarillo, Texas.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyson Foods says it will close beef plants amid cattle shortage